Method of treating fur



Y and like articles.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF TREATINGIUR Attilio Pierini, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.

No Drawing. Application February 18, 1946,

Serial No. 648,553"

This invention relates to a method of treating fur, and more particularly to a method of treating lamb wool.

Among the objects of the invention is to-provide a method of treating fur to create or pre- .5Claims. (or. 69-22) I serve one or more of the following: namely, to

assist in straightening of the fur, to'minlmize felting, to preserve elasticity and strength of the fur, to minimize the possibility of injury by flexure of the fur, to impart luster to the fur, to

minimize the effect of moisture on the fur, and to create an atmosphere that will tend to prevent burning or singeing of the fur during itsdryin'g treatment, and to generally improve the condi tion of the fur so that it will be useful garments At the present time fur, such as lambs wooL-is treatedby, among others, the following process: 7 The skin of the pelt is tanned as, for instance, by the chrome or other heat resistant tanning. The pelt is then dried in a drying atmosphere,

after which the wool is, if desired,'sheared,

cleaned in a sawdust-containing rotary drum, and then combed in a dry atmosphere. Theshearing', cleaning and combing steps are repeated as often as is desirable under the existent conditions. The fur of the pelt is then treated, as by brushing or submergence, with, among other things, formaldehyde, and is combed in the presence of heat, which is said to improve its condition for use in garments or the like. If desired, the fur is then dyed.

While my method is applicable to other furs, I shall describe it in connection with the treatment of lambs wool while the wool is on the skin, or otherwise stated in situ.

In one phase of my invention I follow the tanhing, drying and shearing steps outlined above, the shearing step being only performed when it isdesired to shorten the fur from its original length. I then apply water to the fur, as for instance, by brushing, spraying or submergence. The pelt is then passed under a high speed revolving drum, of the type now commonly used in the art for combing, and pressed against the drum with the fur side in contact with the drum. The pelt is passed back and forth in pressure contact with this drum while the temperature of the drum is elevated to a degree sufiicient to dry the fur which is, indeed, suificient to burn or singe the fur if proper speed of movement of the pelt is not maintained.

'During'the passage of the pelt back and forth in contact with the revolving heated drum, I surround the drum with an atmosphere of helium,

. 2 preferably, er with one of the roup consisting of helium, argon, neon, krypton and xenon, or I create such an atmosphere at the point where the fur oi the pelt contacts the drum. Optionally, I then dye the fur.

In its broadest aspect my invention resides in the steps of "wetting the fur with water or some other desirable liquid, and then passing it in pressure contact with the revolving heated drum while maintaining the fur in an atmosphere of helium, pre'gterably', or of one of the group above identified.

Whether the formaldehyde method heretofore described or my specific steps be employed, the creation of an atmosphere of helium around the fur dur n the hot drum treatment will maintain or impart to the fur one or more of the characteristics set forth in my stated objects of invention above set forth.

Moreover, the use of helium, or one of the above identifledgroup, will afford a measure of protechyde in one aspect of the inventionand the workmen fwillthus be relieved of being subjected to the detrimental effect of the formaldehyde and other fumes that are incident to the treatment.. Even'when the formaldehyde method is used the presence of helium, or one of the above identified group, in'the surrounding atmosphere will afford a measure of protection for the workmen.

Thus it will be seen that I have created a method and'steps of a method of treating fur, preferably on the pelt and which is particularly applicable to curly lambs wool, that may be used in straightening the wool and in imparting to the wool or preserving in the wool, elasticity, flexibility, strength, freedom from singeing or burning, freedom from felting, luster and a degree of repellency to moisture.

While I have described a particular form of my method, I do not wish to be limited to the specific steps or sequence of steps described except in so far as they are recited in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of treating fur on a pelt which ineludes combing the same in the presence of moiseludes combing the same in the presence of water 5. A method of treating fur on a pelt which inand heat and in an atmosphere of helium. eludes combing the same in the presence of mois- 4. A method 01' treating fur on a pelt which ture and heat and in an atmosphere of one 0! includes applying water to the fur, raising the the group consisting of helium, arson, krypton, temperature of the fur to a degree normally sufli- 5 neon and xenon. cient to singe the fur, applying helium to the A'I'I'IIIO PIERJNI. fur and combing the fur. 

